The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-12-15

were exhausted to invent eX-
,edients to encompass the defeat and ruin
If the Republican party. and have at all
lines and under all circumstances strlven |
or Republican success, whether when
Gen. Malone commanded in the Demo
cratic party. or when he was leading the |
Republican column. They cannot be
driven from it now, when their services
are needed to assist in placing the party in
a position to command the confidence OF
the people.
The Two Policies.
We publish in our supplement an intel
Iigent synopsis of President Clevelands
Annual Message to Congress, devoted ex-
c!usively to an argument in favor OF free
trade, leaving all other questions and in
terests unnoticed. We also publish IN
this issue a full synopsis of the re-
Spouse of Hon. James G. Blaine, giy-
en- in an interview, to the propositions
of Mr.. Cleveland. Scarcely had the click
of the telegraph which signalled the com
munication of Mr.. Cleveland to Europe
ceased. than it's work was resumed in de-
liveri ng an impromptu criticism by MI.
Blaine of the views of the President. In
twenty-four hours from the time the mes
sage reached the continent, the reply OF
Mr.. Blaine was in New Y ork, through the
enterprise of the Tribune. The President
sat in the Executive Mansion of the Re
public pleading for English labor and in
dustries, and Mr.. Blaine sat in a room in
the French capital, pleading for the inter-
ests. labor and industries of his native
land The contrast was striking. and H.
Illustrates the tendencies and effects of the
two great policies, represented by the two
distinguished gentlemen. Such mastery
presentation of the true American policy
has never been laid before the country as
that which Mr.. Blaine gives. 1t has ere
| ated profound impression in every state
| of the Union. and more especially In
Washington where the representatives OF
all the States are assembled. The Two
papers distinctly represent the two par
! ties and draw the lines between them upon
a principle and policy. which are now
engaging the attention of the Nation.-
They may be said to canetitute the plat
forms of the respective parties for the con-
test of 1888, and clearly indicate the can
didates Of the two parties. 1t will be the
campaign of 1884 repeated. except that
the Democratic party will be placed
squarely upon the free trade platform MIR.
] Cleveland has laid down, Ewithout trim
ming or hedging There is no escape from
this, unless it be the selection Of some 9TH
er standard bearer than Cleveland. 1t will
be an issue that the Republicans have en-
deavored to make the Democrats announce
before without success. We will now be
/ brought face to face with Democracy and
free trade on the one side and Republican
ism and protection to home labor and
home industries on the other. The posi-
lions are honest and must be considered
Aud for forcing his party to them Mr.
Cleveland is to be congratulated.
i We, however, see in 1t undetermined
influences aud effects, politically. The
fight On the part of the Democracy will bt
to capture some of the i ortweStern states
where the Cooden Club literature has beer
freely circulated for years. doing mission
} airy work. 1t will be the policy OF thu
Democracy to concentrate it's work in In
diana, Wisconsin. Iowa, Michigan ant
Minnesota, in the hope of making up fol
the less certainly of New Jersey, Connec
ticut, and probably New York and Vir
ginia. Of course to lose these and gail
the others, with the balance Of the Soutt
solid, would be defeat. But Cleveland be
lieves he can hold the South solid and als'
, New York, and it is really to compensate
4 for che loss of New Jersey and Connect
cut that new field of aggression is to b.
selected. We regard the plan as we'll ia
ken from Democratic standpoint. ant
, having in it as much danger probably TO
the Republicans. as if the ISSUES wer
shaped as heretofore. 1t will be livel
fight all over the country .sexcept in few
of the Southern States, where the Demo
, cratic machine has things it's own way.
In this light. the Republicans will con
slider the contest, if they are wise. The
! can no more quietly depend upon soli'
f Northwest than the3 Democrats can de
} pend upon solid South, with New York
New Jersey and Connecticut Ever
> inch of ground will be contested, AM
] the fight will be waged with an intrepi
energy not known for years past.
To be placed at advantage the Republi
r can Convention will have to select tn
; strongest candidate the party can presen
] one who can arouse An erican sentimen
and draw to him all who believe it to b
the policy of the government to foste
f American interests. Recent manifestation
) Enthusiastically point to the man, and tn
campaign will, no doubt, be conducted
! under the leadership of Blaine on the On
| side and Cleveland Oh the other.
Republican National Convention.
The National Committee of the Repub
lican party met in Washington on the stl
to determine the place and time of hold
ing the next Republican National conven
tion to nom innate candidates for Presi
dent and Vice President. After some
preliminary proceedings an informal ballo